PhD Research Fellow in Mafic and Ultramafic Rocks in Norway for CO₂ Storage and Mineralization
Deadline: 09.04.2026
Publisert
The University of Oslo is Norway’s oldest and highest rated institution of research and education with 26 500 students and 7 200 employees. Its broad range of academic disciplines and internationally esteemed research communities make UiO an important contributor to society.
The geosciences are the studies of the planet Earth and its comparative planetology; the atmosphere, the hydrosphere and cryosphere, the Earth's surface and its interior. The Department of Geosciences conducts research and teaching in most of the domains of geoscience; geology, geophysics, physical geography, geomatics, hydrology, meteorology and oceanography. The Department is the broadest geoscience research and education environment in Norway. We perform research at a high international standard and have five ERC (European Research Council) research projects ongoing.
The Department encompasses six scientific sections; Meteorology and Oceanography, Geography and Hydrology, Study of sedimentary basins, Environmental geosciences. and Crustal Processes. We host now a third in the line of three Centre of Excellences: PHAB – Centre for Planetary Habitability, and have a Norwegian Research School for PhD students (Research School for Dynamics and Evolution of Earth and Planets, DEEP).The Department aims to contribute to the new and important UN Sustainability Development Goals, and are important contributors to IPCC (UN’s Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change). The staff consists of 40 professors and associate professors, in addition to postdoctoral fellows, PhD students, researchers, technical- and administrative staff. The Department has around 200 employees.
About the position
We invite applications for a PhD Research Fellow position in Characterization of Mafic and Ultramafic Rocks, Onshore Norway for CO2 storage and in-situ mineralization available at the Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo.
Starting date as soon as possible. The fellowship period is three years.
A fourth year maybe considered and it will involve 25 percent of other career-promoting work. Other career-promoting work may consist of teaching, supervision, and/or research assistance. This is dependent upon the qualification of the applicant and the current needs of the department.
No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo.
The place of work is the Department of Geosciences at Blindern, Oslo, Norway.
Job description
The PhD Research Fellowship position is available under the project “miniCCS” at the Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo, within the field of geological carbon storage, with a particular focus on in-situ CO₂ mineralization and the geological, geophysical, petrophysical and rock physical characterization of mafic and ultramafic geological formations, onshore Norway. The project addresses scientific and technical challenges related to permanent onshore CO₂ storage by injecting CO₂ into Norwegian mafic and ultramafic rock systems.
The position is associated with ongoing research aimed at advancing understanding of mineral fluid interaction processes and their impact on subsurface architecture and petrophysical and rock physical evolution in mafic and ultramafic rocks during CO₂ injection and mineralization. Emphasis will be placed on the characterization of mafic and ultra-mafic igneous rocks, alteration processes, and the development of geological frameworks for in-situ mineralization following CO₂ injection.
The research will contribute to improved geological methods for site qualification, assessment of injectivity and storage performance, monitoring, long-term containment, and documentation in accordance with regulatory requirements for onshore CO₂ storage.
What skills are important in this role?
The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences has a strategic ambition to be among Europe’s leading communities for research, education and innovation. Candidates for these fellowships will be selected in accordance with this, and expected to be in the upper segment of their class with respect to academic credentials.
Required qualifications:
Master’s degree or equivalent in geology, geophysics, or a closely related field
Foreign completed degree (M.Sc.-level) corresponding to a minimum of four years in the Norwegian educational system
Fluent oral and written communication skills in English and a Scandinavian language
A strong background, demonstrated through relevant research and professional experience, in one or more of the following areas is required:
Petrological, mineralogical, petrophysical and rock physical characterization of mafic and/or ultramafic rocks
Fluid–rock interaction processes in igneous rocks
Quantitative geological and petrophysical interpretation of Igneous rocks
Subsurface processes related to geological CO₂ storage and mineralization
Desired qualifications:The following qualifications will be desired and considered an advantage:
Awareness of geological and regulatory considerations for onshore CO₂ storage in Norway
Familiarity with CO₂ mineralization as a geological storage mechanism
Knowledge of mineralization processes in an applied CCS context
Experience integrating field, laboratory, and petrophysical data
Experience from interdisciplinary or cross-sectoral environments
Personal suitability, scientific maturity, and motivation for the position will be emphasised.
Language requirement:
Good oral and written communication skills in English
All candidates and projects will have to undergo a check versus national export, sanctions and security regulations. Candidates may be excluded based on these checks. Primary checkpoints are the Export Control regulation, the Sanctions regulation, and the national security regulation.
What are we looking for in you?
Personal skills:
Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
Ability to work precise in a structured manner and swiftly adapts to new tasks
Good communication and collaboration skills
Positive attitude and the ability to handle hectic periods
Employment in the position is based on a comprehensive assessment of all qualification requirements applicable to the position, including personal qualifications.
Membership in the Statens Pensjonskasse, which is one of Norway's best pension schemes with beneficial mortgages and good insurance schemes
Oslo’s family-friendly surroundings with their rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities
Salary in position as PhD Research Fellow, position code 1017 in salary range NOK from 550 800 - 595 000, depending on competence and experience. From the salary, 2 percent is deducted in statutory contributions to the State Pension Fund
We need different perspectives in our work
UiO is an open and internationally oriented comprehensive university that strives to be an inclusive and diverse workplace and academic environment. You can read more about UiO’s work on equality, inclusion, and diversity at uio.no.
We fulfill our mission most effectively when we draw upon our variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives. We are looking for great colleagues, could you be the next one?
We will do our best to accommodate your needs. Relevant adjustments may include modifications to working hours, task adaptations, digital, technical, or physical adjustments, or other practical measures.
If you have an immigrant background, a disability, or CV gaps (Norwegian), we encourage you to indicate this in the job application portal. We always invite at least one qualified candidate from each group for an interview. In this context, disability is defined as an applicant who identifies as having a disability that requires workplace or employment-related accommodations. For more details about the requirements, please refer to the Employer portal (Norwegian).
The selections made in the job application portal are used for anonymized statistics that all state employers include in their annual reports. More information about gender equality initiatives at UiO can be found here. We hope you will apply for the position with us.
How to apply
The application must include:
Cover letter - statement of motivation and research interests
CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work - scientific publications)
Copies of the original Bachelor and Master’s degree diploma and transcripts of records
Letters of recommendation
Documentation of English proficiency if applicable
List of publications and academic work that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee
Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number)
Application with attachments must be submitted via our recruitment system Jobbnorge, click "Apply for this job".Foreign applicants should attach an official explanation of their University's grading system.
When applying for the position, we ask you to retrieve your education results from Vitnemålsportalen.no. If your education results are not available through Vitnemålsportalen, we ask you to upload copies of your transcripts or grades. Please note that all documentation must be in English or a Scandinavian language.
General information
The best qualified candidates will invited for interviews.Applicant lists can be published in accordance with Norwegian Freedom of Information Act § 25. When you apply for a position with us, your name will appear on the public applicant list. It is possible to request to be excluded from this list. You must justify why you want an exemption from publication and we will then decide whether we can grant your request. If we can't, you will hear from us.
